County budget proposals target Annandale/Mason projects

The $4.4 billion FY 2020 advertised budget for Fairfax County, presented by County Executive Bryan Hall to the Board of Supervisors last week includes a few small items that would specifically benefit the Annandale/Mason District area.

In one example, just over $222,000 is proposed for expanding the Opportunity Neighborhoods initiative to Annandale.

This program, administrated by the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, coordinates the efforts of multiple county agencies and community-based programs and services to promote positive outcomes for children and youths by aligning available programming with identified needs, interests, and gaps in a particular community.

The program is aimed at ensuring young children are prepared for entering school; that children succeed in school; that youths graduate from high school and continue on to postsecondary education and careers; and that families, schools, and neighborhoods support the healthy development of children and youths.

Opportunity Neighborhoods currently operates in Bailey’s Crossroads/Culmore, the Mount Vernon and Lee Districts, Herndon, and Reston.

The budget calls for $950,000 for routine and non-routine maintenance in five major
commercial revitalization areas, including Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads. These funds would support the replacement of sidewalk and crosswalk pavers, landscape maintenance, and infrastructure repairs.

The budget includes a funding increase of $223,000 for the Bailey’s Crossroads Homeless Shelter and $100,000 for a new full-time position to support the new medical respite program at the shelter.

The medical respite program, administered by both the Department of Family Services and the Health Department, provides four dedicated beds for homeless clients who are recuperating from an acute medical condition. The shelter is scheduled to open by the end of 2020.

The budget proposes $60,000 for the Bike to Parks pilot project, which would provide approximately 60 bike racks in 15 parks and RECenters that are near countywide trails in Annandale and the Richmond Highway area.

The budget also calls for $390,000 to replace the leaky roof at the Annandale Child Development Center.

County Executive Bryan Hill and Chief Financial Officer Joe Mondoro will give a presentation on the budget at the Mason Government Center March 7 at 7 p.m.